69% polling recorded in Dasuya; women voters outnumber men

A total of 69% voters exercised their franchise in the Dasuya by-election today even as women voters again outnumbered menfolk in voting. Overall polling percentage witnessed a decline of 5% over that recorded during the elections held for the assembly segment five months ago.

A total of 69% voters exercised their franchise in the Dasuya by-election on Wednesday even as women voters again outnumbered menfolk in voting. Overall polling percentage witnessed a decline of 5% over that recorded during the elections held for the assembly segment five months ago.

District election officer Deepinder Singh confirmed that 69% polling was recorded in Dasuya by-poll. As many as 1,12,658 voters out of total 1, 61,120 exercised their franchise in the day-long exercise to seal the fate of three candidates, including BJP's Sukhjit Kaur, Congress' Arun Dogra Mickey and People's Party of Punjab candidate Bhupinder Singh Ghumman.

Earlier, 10% voting was recorded by 10am but it picked up pace in the afternoon. By 2.30pm, 56% votes had been polled while 65% votes were polled by 4pm.

In January 30 assembly polls for Dasuya segment, 74.59% polling was recorded after which the then BJP nominee Amarjit Singh Sahi emerged victorious by defeating Congress rival Ramesh Chander Dogra. Sahi's death later necessitated the by-poll.

The decline was attributed to lack of enthusiasm among the voters for the by-poll ever since Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule on June 11. A section of voters were not keen on participating in the poll process, assuming that this by-poll was not going to affect the ruling alliance in the Vidhan Sabha, irrespective of the fact who won the election. Besides, the poll campaign remained lacklustre due to prevailing hot and humid weather conditions.

"A total of 58,963 out of 79,838 (74%) registered women voters cast their votes while polling percentage in case of men worked out to be 65% as 53,695 out of 81,782 men voters turned up for voting," Singh said, adding that counting of votes would be held on July 14.